Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas M. Veerappa Moily has directed public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) to expedite delivery of 40 crore litre of ethanol.
At a meeting with oil marketing companies and representatives of Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) here on Monday, Moily asked the oil companies to purchase additional quantity of ethanol through fresh tenders to meet the requirement of the five per cent mandatory ethanol blended petrol (EBP) programme.
The Minister said against a requirement of 100 crore litres ethanol a year, the oil marketing companies had so far finalised procurement of around 40 crore litres for the next 12 months.
To meet the balance requirement, these companies are now planning to float another tender this month for procurement of ethanol.
During the meeting, ISMA suggested that OMCs could procure the finalised quantity of 40 crore litres entirely in the next three-four months and fresh fender could be floated for the requirement of ethanol coinciding with the next sugar season, which starts from October 2013.
The supplies with regard to the tender could start from November this year.